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JULY 1, 2006 at 10:50 AM
Posted by CHEESER
Source: National Post via Moreover
Winnipeg, Canada-based folk band Wyrd Sisters has been ordered
to pay Warner Bros. $140,000 in legal costs stemming from the group's 2005 lawsuit aimed at preventing the release of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire because the movie contained a pretend band of similar name.
HPANA has learned through a confidential source involved with the case that Jarvis Cocker (the real-life musician who was the lead singer of Potter's "Weird Sisters") desired to release an entire album of songs with different collaborators, including Franz Ferdinand, Jack White and Iggy Pop. (The band Franz Ferdinand was once rumored to be the movie-version Weird Sisters.)
Cocker also planned music videos and singles, all of which had to be pulled due to the lawsuit. The whole debacle created so much tension that Cocker was escorted down the red carpet premiere in London to avoid reporters' questions on the subject.
(On a semi-related note, this great interview with Daniel Radcliffe may have been missed in the hooplah surrounding Goblet of Fire's release in November 2005. It's all about Dan's musical tastes and mentions both Cocker and Franz Ferdinand.)
UPDATE: The Wyrd Sisters are appealing this ruling and will continue on with their $40 million lawsuit against Warner Bros.
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Witch
Points: 872
Mizz*Pinky*Panther says:
I did not know there was a Wyrd Sisters. Thats pretty kool though. Wow, $140 000, thats got to be hard. Im glad GoF was released though.
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 10:53 AM EST
Student
Points: 289
Jynessa says:
Wow! That's pretty crazy, eh? 140,00 dollars? I had no idea about these 'Wyrd Sisters'.... o_0
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 11:02 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 494
CENTAURrising says:
Why do they have to make such big stink about it? It's not very cool that they have to pay WB so much...without doubt, WB doesn't need the money...maybe it's just covering the cost of the case...I don't know much about lawsuits. How crazy!
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 11:04 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 64
blondebouncingferret says:
Wow. This band must be so desperate for publicity. Either that or stupid enough to believe they could have actually banned HP4 from being released. The movie doesn't even mention the name, however, the book did, several times.
Maybe they should try sueing Shakespeare if they're so annoyed about it.
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 11:04 AM EST
Witch
Points: 818
ElizabethRG says:
That sucks for them. JKR should be the one who has the say though, she invented the band.
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 11:05 AM EST
Mrs. Draco Malfoy
Points: 27909
Arika Granger Malfoy says:
Serves those fools right!!!
haha....that was so stupid of them in the first place.
I didnt really like the weird sisters music anyways....too screamy.
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 11:09 AM EST
Headmaster
(Moderator)
Cheeser says:
blondebouncingferret - The movie doesn't mention the band by name because they had to remove it due to this lawsuit. According to my source, things would've been MUCH different had this lawsuit never happened.
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 11:13 AM EST
True Weasley
Points: 5529
~GinnyWeasley~ says:
wow that is whacked... i love the wierd sisters.. fter i watch GOF i can never get the songs out of my head..
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 11:13 AM EST
Chief Brain Washer
Points: 2881
Chogiiiirl says:
It was a pretty frivilous lawsuit for them to try to keep GoF from coming out in the theaters. I suppose the $140,000 is probably to cover WB costs for the lawsuit.
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 11:15 AM EST
Ravenclaw Ambassador
Points: 3243
Nevar says:
Well now that was about confusing!
Gosh, who's who? Well, those Canadians can keep on with their music in my opinion, just as long as there's no owls or quidditch.
N
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 11:16 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2108
phoenix_feathers says:
Wow, that sounds really intense. That's sort of stupid that The Wyrd Sisters tried to sue... J.K. Rowling came up with the name, she doesn't even live in Canada!
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 11:17 AM EST
Witch
Points: 904
heir of the augureys says:
Well that is a a very stupid lawsuit. The names are not even the same. I wonder if the band was named even before GOF came out...i wouldnt be surprised.
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 11:24 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2401
tonks 27 says:
Ha! the band didn't win and now they have to cough up $140,000 in legal costs? talk about adding insult to injury (although in these circumstances i think it's well deserved!).
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 11:34 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1068
Ginny511 says:
Thats tottaly crazy no one not even Harry Potter fans would bye that CD i mean really guys.....but anyway thats a lot of money!
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 11:36 AM EST
Keeper of Harry's Fate
Points: 9051
TheOneWhoMustBeNamed says:
Glad to see this. WB had made extra efforts here and these folks were really out of line. There was really little or no confusion possible. I am glad to see that things resolved as they did.
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 11:37 AM EST
Witch
Points: 917
hermioneadmirer says:
That is way funny how they have to pay WB now for something they were wanting money from.Well that does serve them right to try to get money out of it when it was close to their name but not their name.
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 11:46 AM EST
Wizard
Points: 570
minister of muggles says:
Wyrd....That would be cool about the band making album.
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 11:58 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1050
Phoenix Lover says:
I hate that they had to make a big fuss overc nothing. They should have to pay Warner Brothers for over reacting.
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 12:00 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1227
I Who Lived..To Read says:
Hmm, I like that there's an actual band called Wyrd Sisters, even if it is a different spelling. Jeesh, though, 140,000 is a big bunch of money..
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 12:01 PM EST
Auror
Points: 3041
ThePhoenix'sSong says:
I think that is just ridiculous. Trying to get money like that. I just think trying to get money like that is petty and stupid. Law suits like that are just stupid. I can't help but feel that it is just for money when someone does that. Not that I have anything against the Wyrd Sisters. It is just that type of lawsuit so dumb.
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 12:03 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 357
RonlovesHermioneforever says:
That has got to be the most bizarre story I've ever heard surrounding HP. I mean come on, the Wyrd Sisters. oh well I guess they'll have to just pay up and move on.
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 12:03 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 357
RonlovesHermioneforever says:
Ok, I just finished reading the November interview from Dan, that was kinda harsh. I mean he wants record stores to be fined for selling pop albums??? People have the right to listen and like whatever they want. Some pop is cool!
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 12:07 PM EST
Witch
Points: 981
tigergal0075 says:
Did they really think that they would accomplish this?? Wow, because if they did that would be crazy. I'm thinking that they are the copiers. It's not like WB made up the name Weird Sisters, it was Jo. I totally believe with all my heart that they copied off of her. And if they didn't, they should be proud of the fact that of of the greatest authors ever alive made a band SIMILAR to their name!! But they did get a BUNCH of publicity.
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 12:19 PM EST
Witch
Points: 869
kat_snowyowl says:
That whole thing was so stupid. The band could have gotten 50 gran and they threw it all away for a lawsuit they had practically no chance of winning. And all the fans miss out on an album and music videos! The whole thing was completely selfish and should NEVER have happened.
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 12:27 PM EST
Grillows Girl
Points: 2785
Miss Baltimore Crabs says:
Well, they should have fun trying to pay that $140,000. Stupid people... we could have been having albums and everything. Meh.
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 12:31 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2363
Nataly says:
That is a bit weird, isn't it?
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 12:31 PM EST
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